NBA 2K13 shatters backboards and sales records in its first week

Apparently, each and every new sports release this year is breaking some sort of sales record. 2K Sports today revealed that NBA 2K13, the only real basketball game in town, has slammed down on both NBA 2K12, and their previous fastest seller, NBA 2K11.

2K13 has topped 2K11 by 49% so far in its first week according to 2K’s internal estimates. Online users have more than doubled since last year’s release of 2K12 and the number of online games has grown by 127%. Not bad… although we’re expecting a little competition to possibly hit the hardwood next year.

Read on for the announcement.

2K Sports today announced franchise record-setting sales of NBA 2K13, the latest iteration in the top-selling and top-rated basketball simulation series*. In its first week of sales, NBA 2K13 sold-through 49 percent more copies than the franchise’s previous fastest-seller, NBA 2K11**. This record-shattering growth is due in part to the expanding global popularity of the NBA 2K brand, which accounted for a 66 percent increase in international sales as compared with NBA 2K11**.

Fans have flocked online to experience NBA 2K13 action with their friends, and the number of online users has more than doubled from last year’s NBA 2K12. In addition, the number of played online games has also grown exponentially, as NBA 2K13 has experienced a 127 percent increase over last year’s totals**.

NBA 2K13, the latest successful launch from the acclaimed basketball franchise, recently received a perfect 10/10 score from PlayStation: The Official Magazine, who said that the game’s improvements “elevates 2K13 beyond mere annual greatness and into hall-of-fame consideration.” NBA 2K13 also received 9.1/10 score from IGN, who declared it “amazing,” and “obviously one of the best hoops games out there.”

“Our early sales figures are a validation of our ongoing efforts to push this franchise to new heights,” said Jason Argent, vice president of marketing for 2K Sports. “We owe it to our great fans to continually improve our title – year in and year out – and that’s exactly what we’ve done with NBA 2K13.”

This year, 2K Sports joined forces with music icon JAY Z, who served as the game’s Executive Producer. JAY Z personally curated the game’s soundtrack and visual feel of the game, and played an instrumental role in securing the 1992 “Dream Team” for this year’s game.NBA 2K13 also introduces the all-new Control Stick, giving players more control than ever before.

Developed by Visual Concepts, a 2K Sports studio, NBA 2K13 is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and is now available for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, PSP (PlayStation Portable) system, Wii™ system and Windows PC. The Wii U version of the title will be available in North America when the console launches on November 18. It will be available outside of North America around the international console launch on Friday, November 30.